July 13, 2015

Team USA wins the Gold in World University Games

Team USA won its tenth World University Games gold medal today with an 82-63 victory over Canada.

The game was much tougher than the final score indicates. Both teams defended well and shot poorly (USA 34%, Canada 27%) in the first half, which ended with the USA ahead 31-23 after a 7-0 run.

Canada fought back in the third quarter, tied the game 41-41 midway through the period, and cut the USA lead to three points (48-45).

Team USA took control of the game in the fourth quarter with another 7-0 run that took them to the first double-digit lead of the day with eight minutes left to play. Canada didn't have enough fight left to slow the USA surge to victory.

Erica played for 34 minutes. Her stats weren't terrific — nine points, six rebounds, three blocks, three steals — but she did a great job of holding Adut Bulgak, Canada's leading scorer, in control.

Erica was an outstanding member of Team USA. She played the most minutes (29.7 mpg), blocked the most shots (1.8 bpg), scored the second-most points (15.2 ppg), had the second-best field goal percentage (0.597), grabbed the second-most rebounds (8.5 rpg) and committed the fewest fouls of the starting five (1.3 fpg). Here are the Team USA cumulative statistics.

Erica said, "It’s been an amazing experience. These girls just became my sisters in a small amount of time. Coming here, bonding, playing cards together, it’s been amazing. I’m so glad that we got to go through it together. Who better to get a medal with than these girls?"